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10 fatalities

Fatal cargo aircraft crash near river bank (XW-PFM)

Muong Soui, LaosFlight

On December 7, 1967, a Douglas DC-3 (registration XW-PFM) operated by Lao Cathay Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Muong Soui, Laos in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost control during flight, resulting in an inverted impact with a river bank. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo flight ended in a fatal accident when the aircraft lost control and struck a river bank in an inverted position, resulting in ten fatalities.

What happened

During a scheduled cargo operation, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control while in flight. The sequence of events led to the plane striking a river bank in an inverted orientation. The impact resulted in a significant loss of life among those on board.

According to reports from the scene, the crash caused 10 fatalities and left two passengers injured. The aircraft was operating as a cargo transport at the time of the accident.

Findings

The investigation into the event noted that the aircraft crashed in an inverted state against the terrain. While the specific mechanical or environmental triggers for the loss of control were not detailed in the initial report, the primary factor was the loss of aircraft control prior to impact.

Probable cause

The aircraft lost control during flight, resulting in an inverted impact with a river bank.

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